Anticipatory grief is one of the most misunderstood—and isolating—emotional experiences. It happens when we know that a loss may be coming: a pet who is declining, a loved one who is ill, a relationship that’s shifting, a family member aging, or a major life change we can feel on the horizon.

You may notice yourself fixating on the future, bracing for impact, or mentally rehearsing what it will feel like when the loss comes. You might feel guilt for thinking ahead, overwhelmed at how much you care, or confusion about why fear is overshadowing the time you still have.

If this is you, you’re not alone—and nothing is wrong with you. Anticipatory grief is your nervous system trying to protect you from something you deeply don’t want to experience.

Anticipatory grief is a very real and valid experience—not something to ignore or push away, but something we learn to live alongside, especially when we do not know how long this period of time will last, and we can’t put our lives on hold wh...